New Law Targets Treason, Military Conspiracy Crimes
The Algerian legislator has introduced a draft law concerning military justice, proposing stringent military-specific penalties intended to foster individual and collective deterrence. Justice Minister Lotfi Boujamaa presented this draft, which incorporates Order No. 26-01 of July 27, 2026, to the legal committee of the People's National Assembly. This comprehensive text, comprising 360 articles, is a component of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's reforms aimed at reinforcing the pillars of a state governed by law and justice, aligning with the constitutional changes adopted in 2020.
The proposed legislation seeks to address critical offenses, particularly those involving treason, military conspiracy, the illegal assumption of command, insulting the national flag or the People's National Army, and crimes designed to help perpetrators evade military obligations. To this end, the new law introduces severe military penalties, including military dismissal, loss of rank, and demotion, underscoring a commitment to upholding discipline and national security within the armed forces.
Furthermore, the reform aims to redefine the perception of military justice by affirming its nature as a specialized criminal judiciary, not an exceptional one. It stipulates that military justice operates in the name of the people, through military judicial bodies, under the oversight of the Supreme Court, ensuring adherence to the principles of legality, fair trial, and respect for human dignity and rights. This systemic enhancement provides a robust legal framework for the military, delineating its jurisdiction in both peacetime and wartime to address offenses affecting military order and state security.
